Many different parts of the NFL have evolved since the beginning of its time. And ever since the NFL started up in 1946, many new rules have been implemented to ensure safety and fairness towards the players and teams. Different scenarios and situations have ultimately dictated the changing of some rules throughout the history of the NFL. Although some people may not necessarily agree with the new implications and set of rules, there is a reasoning behind the making of these rules. And I am here to talk about some of the most significant rule changes that impacted the league the most as well as ones I don’t necessarily agree with.
In the past players were allowed to get away with a lot more back in the day. players would aggressively swing, hit, and even step on other players without even contemplating it. This resulted in a number of injuries and finally, in 1980 the NFL implemented the “personal foul”. This rule protected the well-being of players and resulted in a 15-yard penalty if the violator was accused. Two of these penalties would result in the player getting ejected from the entire game and having to deal with fines from the league commissioner. Another significant change is definitely the implementation of the “instant replay” this allowed referees to review plays that were controversial or questionable based on what the ref originally called on the field. It also allows for the other 5 refs to come into a mutual agreement to determine if the original call on the field was right or wrong. It was implemented in 1999 and is crucial in making sure the game is as fair as possible.
Although some rules made a very significant impact on the game in a positive manner, some rules I believe were not necessary to be established. In 1978, the NFL implemented a rule called the “5-yard contact rule for defenders”. This ultimately limited a defender to only being allowed to maintain contact with a receiver, tight end, or running back for 5 yards past the line of scrimmage, and anywhere past that would result in a penalty. I believe this rule is a little unfair towards the defenders being that it gives them a huge disadvantage. It’s hard enough for them to have to stick with some of the best athletes in the world as they run their routes, but only 5 yards is not enough space for defenders to effectively cover and I believe the NFL should increase it to 10. The implementation of the “sudden death overtime” is also one that I believe should of never been implemented. If teams are tied by the end of regulation, they have a coin toss to determine who gets the ball and whoever scores a touchdown first wins. While I agree that the first touchdown wins, I think that both teams should have an opportunity to score and that the ball should automatically be placed on the opposing teams 25. This makes it more interesting for the fans and keeps the game going at a faster pace. This rule is used in college which is why it confuses me as to why it is not used in the NFL.
I am very curious to see how the NFL changes the rules as time progresses. The NFL is constantly trying to advance the game and ensure the health and safety of the players while making the game fair. I honestly would recommend that the NFL has a 3 year period of trial and error. What I mean by this is that the NFL should only be allowed to change rules every 3 years to determine if they are effective or not. Many people might not agree, but I believe it will make the game easier to understand.
As always, make sure to leave any comments you may have, being that this could be my most controversial post yet! I was always curious about the constant changing of rules in the NFL which is why I want to know what you guys are thinking. It truly is shocking how often the new rules are implemented as the game progresses. I leave you all with a few questions: What is one rule that you believe was unnecessary? Should the NFL have a limitation on how many rules they are allowed to implement? how have these new rules impacted the game?
Make sure to leave any questions or concerns that you may have regarding this very controversial topic. It is one I have been questioning my entire life since becoming a die-hard NFL fan. Be sure to like and subscribe if you haven’t already as I post content basically every day. Tune into tomorrow as I talk about my top 3 most important positions that impact a team the most in the NFL. Have a great day guys and stay safe!
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